■  AN 

ORATION, 

DELIVERED  AT  \EW  LOXDOlf* 

BEFORE  THE 

WASHINGTON  TOTAL  ABSTINENCE  SOCIETY, 

July  4th,  1842. 


BV  GEORGE  S.  f.' AT  LIU.  r><t 


» 


Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


ORATION. 


FELL  O  IF  CITIZENS  — 

The  songs  of  rejoicing,  which,  at  every  successive  return  of 
this  Anniversary,  have  in  triumph  ascended  from  our  Temples, 
have  all  in  succession  died  away.  The  soul-stirring  eloquence 
which,  upon  occasions  like  this,  has  moved  our  countrymen  to 
firm  resolves  to  maintain  and  perpetuate  the  Liberties,  for  which 
our  Fathers  so  nobly  and  successfully  struggled,  has  as  often 
been  hushed  in  silence.  And  it  may  be  that  the  various  subjects, 
fit  for  discussion,  upon  a  day  like  this — subjects  which  have 
been  made  the  theme  of  many  a  lofty  song  and  sounding  period, 
have  been  nearly  exhausted,  and  that  we  cannot  now  speak, 
*ave  in  fear  of  bootless  repetition. 

But  yet,  an  event  which  was  the  happy  result  of  so  many 
painful  causes,  was  signal  in  the  history  of  human  affairs,  and 
upon  which  depended  so  much  of  human  happiness,  is  worthy 
still  of  commemoration.  And  when  we  remember  the  many 
toils  and  sufferings,  and  the  amount  of  treasure  and  of  blood  by 
whi.h  it  was  established;  the  momentous  and  happy  results  by 
which  it  has  been  followed,  and  contemplate  the  blissful  pros- 
pects which  open  so  enchantingly  before  us,  little  else  can  be 
required  to  cause  Patriot-hearts,  which  have  so  often  been  made 
to  swell  with  lively  enthusiasm,  again  to  beat  with  a  quickened 
pulsation. 

Upon  this  Anniversary  we  commingle  the  spirit  and  events 
of  the  past,  and  of  the  future,  with  those  of  the  present  time  ; — 
and  while  we  gaze  in  wonder  back,  upon  the  first  great  monu- 
ment of  our  existence — The  Declaration  ;— while  wc  look  in 
admiration  forward,  to  the  bright  and  dazzling  glories  which 


2 


shall  beam  upon  posterity,  the  present  teems  with  new  and 
bewildering  interest.  Every  breast  is  filled  with  whatever  of 
heroic  pride,  manly  sentiment,  or  elevated  feeling,  may  be  excit- 
ed by  an  epoch  high  placed  on  the  annals  of  the  past ;  by  what 
ever  maybe  cheering  in  the  view  of  our  present  condition ;  and 
by  the  contemplation  of  the  glorious  Sun  of  Liberty,  which, 
along  the  course  of  all  future  time  shall  shine  in  full  effulgence. 

Yes — American  Liberty  still  lives  !  and  the  Anniversary  of 
that  illustrious  day  which  saw  its  birth,  has  again  returned,  anew 
to  awaken  our  holy  ardor,  love  of  country,  and  grateful  praisc= 
Let  us  rejoice,  that  once  more,  we  hail  it  Free ! 

Perhaps  nothing  can  be  of  more  importance  to  the  safety  and 
welfare  of  those  who  are  essentially  the  guardians  of  their  own 
fortunes,  than  a  precise  and  thorough  knowledge  of  the  nature 
of  the  rights  and  privileges  with  which  they  arc  endued  by  na- 
ture, and  which  are  recognised  by  the  Constitution  and  Laws  of 
the  Government  under  which  they  live.  Upon  the  extent  of 
the  Liberties  whieh  they  actually  enjoy,  must  mainly  depend 
the  amount  of  their  individual  felicity ;  and  than  an  ignorance 
of  that  extent,  nothing  can  constitute  a  surer  guide  to  error  and 
misfortune.  And  yet,  by  how  few  are  the  limits  of  our  rights 
precisely  understood. 

Of  Civil  Liberty  it  has  well  been  said  that,  "  though  declama- 
tion and  eloquence,  in  all  ages,  have  exhausted  their  stores  upon 
this  favorite  theme,  yet  reason  hath  made  so  little  progress  in 
ascertaining  the  nature  and  boundaries  of  liberty,  that  there  are 
few  authors  indeed,  either  of  this,  or  any  other  country,  which 
can  furnish  the  studious  and  serious  reader,  with  a  clear  and 
consistent  account  of  this  idol  of  mankind."  While  Liberty- 
has  been  the  boast  of  many  in  every  land,  at  every  successive 
age  of  the  world,  its  principles  have  been  the  study  of  compara- 
tively few ;  and  it  has  sometimes  happened  that  those  who  pro- 
fessed to  those  principles  the  most  deep-rooted  attachment,  and 
were  loudest  in  their  praise  of  them,  have  been  found  to  under- 
stand least  of  their  nature  and  extent,  as  well  as  of  their 
practical  utility  and  importance. 

Civil  Liberty  consists,  not  in  the  right  of  "doing  every  thing 
which  a  man's  passions  urge  him  to  attempt,  or  his  strength 
enables  him  to  effect."    Such  Liberty  would  place  all  at  the 


3 


mercy  of  the  most  designing  and  powerful.  But  Civil  Liberty 
is  well  defined  to  be,  "that  of  a  member  of  society,  and  is  no 
other  than  Natural  Liberty,  so  far  restrained  by  human  laws, 
and  no  farther,  as  is  necessary  and  expedient  for  the  general 
advantage  of  the  public."  And  this  is  a  clear,  concise,  and 
beautiful  exposition  of  that  Civil  Liberty,  which  is  the  birth- 
right of  every  American  citizen  ;  that  Liberty,  the  great  prin- 
ciples of  which,  arc  incorporated  into  all  our  Institutions  ;  that 
Liberty  which,  it  is  the  first  object  of  our  excellent  Constitution 
and  equal  laws,  to  cherish  and  preserve  inviolate. 

The  Tree  of  American  Liberty,  grew  not  first  upon  our  own 
soil,  nor  was  it  first  nourished  by  American  hands,  No!  The 
seed  from  which  it  grew,  was  planted  in  the  breasts  of  those 
who,  by  birth,  by  education,  and  by  every  endearing  association, 
were  Englishmen.  Impelled  by  an  unholy  zeal  to  preserve 
unnatural  and  ill-gotten  power,  the  seed  was  deep  planted  in  a 
most  fertile  soil,  by  the  hand  of  Oppression.  Oppression  sought 
to  blast  its  first  fruits,  and  trample  it  under  foot.  But  yet,  the 
seed  took  root,  and  its  shoot  was  nourished,  with  care  both  deli- 
cate and  tender,  in  all  the  secrecy  of  secret  thought  and  secret 
prayer.  It  flourished  ;  and  when  too  big  for  farther  conceal- 
ment, searched  for  as  it  was  by  all  the  watchful  eyes  of  Tyranny, 
it  was  thought  to  remove  the  sapling  with  the  soil  that  clung 
around  it,  to  a  more  peaceful  realm — to  a  more  genial  climate. 
The  time  of  its  removal  was  fixed,  and  at  length  it  came.  It 
was  a  cold  and  cheerless  night ;  the  moon  shone  not,  nor  the 
stars  ; — and  as  the  elements  assumed  a  bearing  of  unusual 
severity  ;  as  the  rains  descended  and  the  night  winds  blew,  a 
band  of  brothers  bore  it  from  the  shores  which  threatened  its 
destruction,  and  themselves  for  the  last  time,  trode  the  fens  and 
marshes  of  their  native  isle. 

After  encountering  every  severity  and  danger  which  a  wintry 
sky  could  inflict,  or  a  wintry  sea  with  its  cold,  dark  billows  roll- 
ing threaten — severities  which  would  have  withered  any  stock 
less  sturdy  than  this,  and  dangers  which  would  have  paralyzed 
any  hearts  less  full  of  zeal  and  faith  than  those  which  held  it  in 
their  fond  embrace,  the  Pilgrims  ultimately  planted  it  in  the 
Wilderness-Garden  of  America.  Though  in  the  midst  of  dan- 
gers and  privations  which  beggar  description,  they  immediately 


4 


instituted  a  form  of  government,  such  as  they  thought  fit,  to 
nourish  and  protect  the  tree  which  they  had  planted.  Their 
government  succeeded  beyond  the  limits  of  their  hopes,  and  so 
suited  was  it  to  their  purpose,  that  the  tree  soon  took  root,  its 
branches  began  to  spread,  and  its  foilage  waxed  green  and  beau- 
tiful. It  was  indeed  a  tree  of  promise !  In  its  kindly  shade, 
the  earth,  and  all  things  else,  were  seen  to  bloom  and  prosper  ; 
and  even  from  afar,  many  came  to  inhale  its  fragrance,  and  to 
invoke  its  shelter  from  the  storms  of  life.  Time  rolled  on — 
and  with  only  now  and  then  a  storm  which  threatened,  then 
subsided,  all  was  tranquil  and  peaceful,  and  prosperous  and 
happy. 

But  Cupidity  saw  the  lovely  garden,  and  vainly  thought  to 
make  it  all  her  own.  Pride  and  ambition  urged  her  on ;  and 
the  royal  head  of  an  usurping,  avaricious  nation,  sought  exclu- 
sive right  to  legislate  over  all  its  fertile  soil,  and  to  prescribe  to 
its  people,  the  line  of  every  thought,  and  of  every  action. 
These  claims  were  met  by  petition  and  remonstrance,  but  with- 
out effect.  "  Unconditional  submission  or  chastisement,"  was 
the  mad  response  : — and  then  Oppression  came  ;  and  then  was 
aroused  that  spirit  of  Patriotism  which  unauthorized  minions 
could  never  extinguish,  and  to  prevent  the  effects  of  which,  a 
tyrant's  power  furnished  no  antidote.  The  British  King  learned 
too  late,  that  the  Tree  of  Liberty  had  been  planted  here.  At 
the  onset  of  his  armies  it  rocked,  but  it  fell  not,  for  the  Fathers 
defended  it ;  and  they  had  partaken  of  its  delicious  fruit. 

At  length,  the  Tree  of  Liberty  was  to  be  assailed  with  all  the 
force  of  British  influence,  of  British  arms,  and  British  valor, 
and  the  war-whoop  and  bugle-blast  gave  «  awful  note  of  prepa- 
ration." Deep  and  fixed  were  the  emotions  and  purposes  of 
those  who  stood  arm  in  arm,  and  shoulder  to  shoulder,  around 
its  mighty  trunk,  awaiting  the  hour  of  final  struggle.  It  came, 
and  fearful  was  the  contest.  The  clangour  of  arms,  the  thunder 
of  cannon,  the  cries  of  the  wounded,  and  the  groans  of  the 
dying,  resounded  throughout  the  lines  of  embattled  hosts  ;  and 
thick  smoke  arising  from  the  heat  of  contest,  seemed  to  involve 
Heaven  and  Earth  in  gloom  and  confusion ;  and  enshrouded 
the  foes  of  Freedom,  with  its  friends,  in  all  the  impenetrable 
darkness  of  night. 


5 


The  cry,  11  to  arms,"  was  over  ;  the  Indian  war-whoop  was 
no  longer  heard;  the  retreating  British  bugle  had  sounded  its 
last  note,  and  all  again  was  hushed.  The  curling  smoke  rolled 
away  into  the  vast  expanse  ;  through  a  clear  blue  sky  the  sun 
shone  forth  in  magnificent  effulgence  ;  and  in  that  beautiful  Uar- 
den  where  so  lately  trode  the  invader's  foot,  again  was  seen  the 
Tree  of  Liberty,  towering  in  its  strength  to  Heaven.  Not  one 
of  even  its  tendercst  branches,  had  been  lopped  away  ;  not  one 
of  its  beautiful  green  leaves  had  fallen  or  faded.  There  it  stood 
in  its  own  native  excellence,  the  pride  and  boast  of  Americans, 
and  the  admiration  of  all  the  world.  The  Eagle  was  seen  to 
stand  with  well  plumed  wing,  upon  its  top;  and  nearly  Three 
Millions  of  Freemen,  full  of  joy,  and  gladness,  and  thanksgiv- 
ing, were  safely  reposing  in  its  ample  shade.  Patriots  and  He- 
roes had  been  in  council  met,  and  had  solemnly  declared  that, 
"  America  was,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  a  Free  and  Independent 
Nation while  with  overflowing  hearts  they  now  paused,  and 
listening,  heard  surrounding  nations  give  the  glad  response, 
"  America  is  Free." 

There  never  before  was,  and  there  probably  never  again  will 
be,  a  Convention  of  sages,  embodying  so  much  of  mental  and 
moral  greatness,  as  did  the  Congress  of  '76.  And  though  there 
were  some  there,  who  feared  that  the  struggle  for  liberty  was 
premature,  and  that  the  chances  of  success  did  not  then  warrant 
the  adoption  of  the  Declaration ;  yet  there  stood  some  in  that 
circle  of  Fathers,  who  seem  to  have  been  clothed  with  the  spirit 
of  prophecy ;  some  whose  zeal  was  equalled  only  by  their  pru- 
dence, and  whose  wisdom  assumed  empire  over  both  ;  some  who 
saw  liberty  within  their  grasp,  and  pointed  to  the  means  of  its 
acquisition,  with  unerring  certainty  ; — some  who  to  the  truth, 
foretold  success.  And  there  was  one  among  them,  who  urged 
the  adoption  of  the  Declaration,  and  predicted  its  ultimate  tri- 
umph, with  an  eloquence  as  resistless  as  the  overflowing  waters 
of  a  mighty  sea  ;  with  an  accuracy  of  revelation,  which  could 
alone  have  been  lighted  up  by  the  finger  of  Heaven, 

To  dissipate  the  dim  mists  which  were  raised  only  by  doubts 
and  fears,  the  Patriot  cries — 

"  But  whatever  may  be  our  fate,  be  assured,  be  assured  that 
M  this  Declaration  will  stand.    It  may  cost  treasure,  and  it  may 


G 


u  cost  blood ;  but  it  will  Stand,  and  it  will  richly  compensate  for 
"  both.  Through  the  thick  gloom  of  the  present,  I  see  the 
"  brightness  of  the  future,  as  the  sun  in  Heaven.  We  shall 
"  make  this  a  glorious,  an  immortal  day.  When  we  are  in  our 
il  graves,  our  children  will  honor  it.  They  will  celebrate  it 
f'  with  thanksgiving,  with  festivity,  with  bonfires,  and  illumina- 
"  tions.  On  its  annual  return,  they  will  shed  tears,  copious 
"gushing  tears,  not  of  subjection  and  slavery,  not  of  agony  and 
"  distress,  but  of  exultation,  of  gratitude,  and  of  joy.  *  *  * 
"  It  is  my  living  sentiment,  and  by  the  blessing  of  God,  it  shall 
"  be  my  dying  sentiment — Independence  now,  and  Independence 
11  forever." 

The  Declaration  was  unanimously  adopted,  and  was  published 
to  the  world.  The  People  heard  it,  and  were  glad.  Our  Armies 
heard  it,  and  were  inspired  with  new  c6urage.  Religion  ap- 
proved it,  and  the  love  of  Religious  Liberty  clung  around  it, 
resolved  to  stand  with  it,  or  fall  with  it.  The  war  of  the  Revo- 
lution was  prosecuted  with  new  vigor ;  and,  lighted  onward  to 
the  battle-field,  by  the  same  holy  zeal  and  ardent  patriotism 
which  had  foretold  their  glory,  wherever  freedom's  soldiers 
stood,  there  arose  the  loud  and  pealing  notes  of  victory ;  and 
the  Proud  Oppressor,  humbled,  acknowledged  that  America 
was  Free.  The  words  of  the  prophet  have  been,  even  to  the 
letter  made  good.  Ever  venerated  be  his  name  !  Civil  and  re- 
ligious liberty,  has  been  to  our  fathers  and  to  ourselves  secured. 
Let  us  aloud  rejoice  ! 

If  thus  we  may  rejoice  in  a  Revolution  which  brought  delive- 
rance from  a  foreign  yoke,  from  foreign  aggression,  and  from 
foreign  bondage,  may  we  not,  on  this,  its  glorious  anniversary, 
rejoice  with  exceeding  great  joy,  in  that  other  Revolution, 
which  has  dawned  upon  this,  our  day  and  generation,  and  pecu- 
liarly upon  ourselves,  bringing  as  it  docs  to  us,  deliverance  from 
degrading  bondage  to  the  deadliest  foe  of  man  ;  deliverance 
from  foes  within,  as  well  as  from  foes  without ;  a  deliverance 
without  which,  Liberty — liberty  of  person,  of  manhood,  of 
mind,  liberty  of  conscience,  is  but  a  name,  a  by-word,  and  a  re- 
proach. The  nations  have  not,  by  this,  been  distracted,  con- 
vulsed and  plunged  in  war,  and  all  the  horrors  which  follow  in 
'ts  train,    Blood  and  treasure  hayc  not  been  poured  out  in  its 


7 


achievement,  nor  has  the  tide  of  prosperity  been  turned  bacl 
or  retarded,  by  its  onward  progress.  But  peace  and  plenty, 
honor  and  happiness,  rather,  have  marked  and  crowned  all  its 
triumphs. 

And  if  there  be  anything  which  forms  a  high  and  distinguish 
ing  characteristic  of  the  present  age  ;  which  is  calculated  to 
elevate  and  ennoble  humanity — and  to  inspire  the  soul  of  the 
Patriot,  the  Philanthropist,  and  the  Christian  with  joy,  and  hope, 
and  confidence  ;  and  in  which  we  may  rejoice  as  in  the  event 
of  a  nation's  birth,  it  is  the  idea,  the  principle,  the  enterprise  of 
rescuing  men  from  voluntary,  self-degradation  ;  of  restoring 
them  to  the  true  dignity  of  their  nature  ;  of  prosecuting  the 
£rcat  Temperance  Reform,  upon  the  enduring  basis  of  Total 
Abstinence.  Indeed,  though  the  traditions  of  the  old  world 
furnish  ample  illustrations  of  the  capacity  of  evil  passions,  of 
war,  of  famine,  and  of  pestilence,  to  corrupt,  debase,  and  de- 
stroy ; — and  though  the  history  of  modern  times,  may  point  us 
to  all  the  splendid  appointments,  and  magnificent  paraphernalia 
of  modern  degeneracy  ;  yet  in  looking  back  through  the  long, 
deep  vista  of  near  six  thousand  years,  the  mind  can  rest  upon 
no  oasis  so  green,  no  charms  so  lovely,  no  spell  so  potent  of 
good,  no  enterprise  of  reform  so  essentially  lighted  up  by  the 
finger  of  Heaven,  as  the  Waslungtonian  Enterprise  of  the 
nineteenth  century  ; — save  always  that  high  and  holy  Mission 
— that  universally  soul-thrilling  Advent,  which  marked  the  be- 
ginning  of  our  era.  Save  this  one  great  work  which,  from  its 
mighty  centre,  shall  finally  come  to  embrace  the  whole  earth  ; — 
the  Temperance  plan,  in  its  origin,  its  progress,  its  success;  in 
its  relief  to  Buffering  and  distress,  to  agony  and  despair  ;  in  its 
active  capacity  to  wipe  tears  away  from  eyes,  quite  dimmed  by 
years  of  grief  and  weeping  ;  and  to  soothe  and  elevate  the  heart, 
long  bowed  down  with  shame  and  woe  ;  and  in  its  ever  active 
and  efficient  energies  in  forever  breaking  in  sunder  the  iron 
chains  of  soul-and-body  degrading  and  destroying  servitude  ; 
and  in  placing  men  erect  in  life,  in  liberty  and  light ; — I  say 
that,  save  the  Christian  religion,  the  Temperance  plan  in  ail  u 
history,  its  power,  success  and  limitless  promise,  over  all  othci 
measures  of  philanthropy,  stands  proudly  and  mightily  pre- 
eminent— upheld  by  every  principle  of  utility,  expediency, an  I 


3 


of  right — sustained  by  every  principle  of  virtue,  morality,  and 
religion — challenging  our  highest  admiration,  and  eliciting  our 
warmest  love. 

And  upon  what  state  of  things;  what  condition  of  society  5 
what  existence  of  humanity,  dawned  this  glorious  light;  this 
resplendent  sun-beam  ;  this  vivifying  transcendence,  which  the 
soul  now  hails  with  such  thrilling  delight  ?  The  old  world  with 
all  its  nameless  abominations  had  passed  away,  and  nearly  fif- 
teen centuries  had  rolled  their  years  along,  ere  in  the  Christian 
world  Intemperance  was  recognized  as  worthy  of  a  place  in 
that  fearful  catalogue  of  crying  evils,  which,  from  the  beginning* 
had  so  closely  beset  frail  human  nature. 

•  The  chance  production  of  a  Mahomedan  Alchymist,  had  been 
recognized  as  a  powerful  chemical  agent ;  the  unfortunate 
discovery  of  a  Spanish  Leech,  had  placed  it  upon  the  shelves 
of  the  apothecary,  as  a  balm  for  every  wound,  and  for  every 
disease  a  catholicon  : — the  nobility  of  Europe  had  regaled  their 
senses  from  sealed  cruets  of  "aqua:  vitac ;" — and  finally,  the 
mass  of  the  people,  had  found  high  excitement  in  dilutions, 
strong  or  weak,  from  open  casks  and  puncheons  of  poisonous 
waters,  which  were  destined  to  works  of  mighty  desolation  and 
of  death. 

Alcoholic  beverage,  in  great  variety  of  strength  and  flavor 
had  become  of  extensive  manufacture,  and  of  extensive  com- 
merce, and  its  use,  its  consumption,  had  become  co-extensive 
with  its  great  abundance.  He  who  by  his  daily  labor  earned 
his  daily  bread,  sought  to  nerve  his  vigorous  arm  by  the  stimu- 
lus of  strong  drink.  He  who  delighted  in  feasts  and  revels, 
pledged  deep  his  guests  in  costly,  spiced,  and  racy  wines.  The 
social  circle  every  where  was  urged  on  to  gaiety  and  mirth,  by 
the  overflowing  bowl,  and  the  sparkling  cup.  He  who  would 
touch  the  "  Lyre  of  Orpheus,"  first  fired  his  imagination,  by 
copious  libations  from  the  fount  of  Bacchus.  He  who  would 
speak  with  the  "  tongue  of  Apollo,"  first  unsealed  his  lips,  in 
paying  his  devotion  at  Bacchus'  shrine.  And  he  who  would 
gather  up  and  concentrate  all  his  energies  to  the  accomplishment 
of  some  great,  some  noble,  some  mighty  end,  first  drank  in  firey 
streams,  which  coursed,  through  all  his  veinsj  his  life's  blood, 
and  his  souk 


9 


And  this,  almost  universal  use  of  unnatural  stimuli  was  urged 
on  by  the  despotic  fashion  of  the  times  ;  and  as  might  have  been 
expected,  vicious  and  depraved  appetites  were  created  and  con- 
firmed ;  vile  and  degrading  habits  were  formed  and  established  ; 
and  to  such  appetites  and  such  habits,  Men — men,  created  but 
a  little  lower  than  the  angels  in  the  scale  of  moral  excellence — 
men,  created  in  the  moral  image  of  God — men,  with  souls  des- 
tined to  immortality,  in  countless  multitudes,  became  the  low, 
the  groveling,  the  abject,  the  willing  slaves.  And  Intempe- 
rance, with  its  hosts  of  kindred  vices,  did  everywhere  abound. 
Poverty  and  suffering,  grief  and  anguish,  and  disease  and  crime, 
and  unutterable  woe  were  there.  And  there  were  moving  ranks 
of  ten  thousands  upon  ten  thousands,  all  crippled  of  their 
strength  and  of  liberty,  being  borne  down  to  untimely  death 
and  nameless  perdition  ;  and  their  thick  and  swaying  legions 
rushed  madly  on,  heedless  of  the  cries  of  suffering  innocence — 
heedless  of  the  calls  of  humanity,  the  voice  of  love,  the  voice 
of  religion.  And  on  they  pressed  to  the  very  verge  of  an  un- 
fathomable abyss.  Hopeless  seemed  the  nerveless  effort  to 
retire,  to  shrink,  to  recoil  from  its  monstrous  jaws.  Behind, 
multitudes  still  pressed  on,  and  in  their  ranks  there  was  seen 
no  breach,  which  offered  hope  of  escape  ;  and  as  their  numbers 
followed  thick  upon  each  other,  and  host  after  host  plunged  into 
the  deep,  dark  and  unknown,  the  horror  stricken  and  motion- 
less looked  back  aghast;  and  behold!  the  avenues,  to  society 
and  the  world,  were  all  fast  closed  upon  them,  and  all  hope  shut 
out  of  sympathy  or  succor.  They  felt  that  they  were  even 
hated  of  themselves — a  shame  to  humanity,  despised  of  their 
kind,  and  forsaken  of  Heaven.  And  Husbands  and  Fathers, 
and  Sons  and  Brothers  ;  Wives  and  Mothers,  and  Daughters 
and  Sisters  were  there,  full  of  sighs  and  tears,  and  bowed  down 
with  excess  of  grief,  who  scanned  the  files  of  this  ever  mov- 
ing, ev  er  sinking  mass  of  degraded  humanity,  in  fruitless  agony 
of  soul  to  lament  and  bewail  their  utter  hopelessness  and  des- 
pair. And  childhood  and  old  age,  and  youth  and  manhood 
were  there  ;  and  as  they  saw  the  death  blows  of  the  hand  of 
desolation  fast  fall  upon  the  nerveless,  helpless  fallen,  they  cried 
out  in  supplication,  "  And  is  there  no  hope  V    While  the  rough 

torrents  and  the  murmuring  brooks,  and  the  stern  mountain^ 
o 


10 


and  the  lovely  vallies,  answered  back,  "  There  is  no  hope  !'* 
And  the  genius  of  friendship  and  of  love,  robed  in  sackcloth  and 
ashes,  wept  over  blighted  prospects,  buried  aspirations,  and 
dear  remembrances,  and  sent  up  its  responsive  wail — "  There 
is  no  hope  !" 

But,  as  if  the  cup  of  earth's  miseries  were  to  overflowing  full ; 
as  if  hell  were  gorged  with  the  victims  of  intemperance  ; — as 
if  Heaven  itself  were  weary  of  listening  to  the  lamentations  of 
the  world,  upon  this  sad  scene  of  grief  and  anguish,  of  distress 
and  despair,  of  desolation  and  death,  a  glittering  star  arose, 
only  surpassed  in  splendid  brightness  by  one  other  star — "  the 
Star  of  Bethlehem."  In  the  midst  of  the  panderers  to  debase- 
ment, armed  with  all  the  instruments  of  revelry,  carousal,  and 
debauch; — in  the  very  presence  of  appetites,  vicious  and  cruel, 
exacting  and  insatiate  ; — and  of  habits  pernicious  and  destruc- 
tive, confirmed  and  commanding — amidst  all  these,  the  Principle 
of  Total  Abstinence  was  born  ;  and  upright  it  stood,  in  form  at 
once  perfect  and  mature.  It  was  as  Minerva,  springing  out  at 
a  single  blow,  from  the  brain  of  Jove,  clad  in  complete  and 
perfect  panoply.  It  was  wisdom  and  courage,  emanating  from, 
and  strengthened  by,  the  natural,  and  honest,  and  mighty  power 
of  the  Divine  Essence; — the  capacity,  the  will  and  the  affections. 
Touched  by  its  electric,  revivifying  power,  out  of  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  fallen  men,  scattered  throughout  the  whole  length 
and  breadth  of  our  country,  in  the  far  famed  Monumental  City, 
six  rose  up  from  their  pollutions,  and  re-asserted  their  humani- 
ty. They  went  forth  the  fit  and  chosen  Apostles  of  that  great 
principle  which  brought  relief  to  them,  and  has  since  brought 
relief  to  thousands  more : — a  principle  which  carries  comfort 
to  the  desolate  fire-side ;  brings  rich  blessings  to  the  poverty- 
stricken  family  ;  re-unites  the  sundered  ties  of  affection  ;  gives 
joy  and  healing  to  the  wounded  spirit ;  brings  back  the  lost  and 
weary  wanderer ;  and  restores  the  very  dead  to  life,  to  man- 
hood, and  to  unshackled  freedom.  And  hence  has  rolled  on  the 
great  moral  revolution  which  now  beams  so  bright  upon  the 
breastplates  of  the  thousands  who  stand  victorious  over  the 
damning  chains  of  vicious  appetite  and  indulgence, — victorious 
over  the  deadliest  foe  of  man — victorious  over  the  hellish  in- 
fluences which  were  fast  dragging  them  over  the  brink  of  an 


1  ! 


infernal  abyss  of  n  oes  unmitigated.  And  hence  has  sprung  up 
that  towering  Alpine  height  of  moral  grandeur,  moral  sublimity, 
and  moral  beauty,  upon  which  we  now  gaze  in  such  unaffected 
surprise,  and  wonder  and  admiration.  Posterity  shall  fix  their 
delighted  gaze  upon  its  shining  celestial  summits ;  and  perchance 
they  will  recognize  this  generation,  as  a  generation  emphatically 
breathed  upon,  by  the  regenerating,  unseen  breath  of  Heaven. 

But,  as  if  there  had  not  been  enough  of  suffering,  and  of 
death  by  Intemperance,  brought  down  upon  mankind  ;— as  if 
joy,  and  comfort,  and  happiness  were  unwelcome  visitants  to 
the  earth,  there  are  those  who  manifest  emotions  of  displeasure, 
of  anger,  of  fierce  hostility,  and  of  indomitable  resistance  to 
the  onward  march  of  our  heaven-directed  enterprise.    Of  these, 
some  have  long  ministered  to  the  appetites  of  the  depraved, 
the  vicious,  and  the  degraded  ;  and  they  seem  blind  to  the  un- 
told miseries  which  they  have  scattered  around  them.  The 
homage  of  their  hearts  has  been  paid  to  gold,  to  silver  and  to 
copper,  and  these  are  the  gods  whom  they  worship.    Oh!  that 
they  would  be  wise  to  discern  the  signs  of  the  times,  and  to 
recognize  tjieir  true  interests  and  imperative  duty,  in  the  aban- 
donment of  a  traffic  which  finds  no  warrant  of  justification  Of 
excuse  in  the  history  of  the  past,  the  testimonies  of  the  present, 
or  the  prophetic  visions  of  the  future  !    Their  past  experience 
and  observation  seem  to  have  imparted  to  them  no  lessons  of 
generous  instruction  ;— the  It&ht  which  now  beams  so  full  upon 
the  abominations  of  a  traffic,  which  once  was  carried  on  without 
reproach,  quite  fails  in  showing  to  their  averted  eyes,  the  glad 
and  peaceful  paths  of  wisdom:  and  in  continuing  to  oiler  temp- 
tations to  folly  and  vice,  they  manifest  no  virtue,  save  that, 
which  has  its  only  reward  in  filthy  lucre. 

While  these  are  exerting  their  powers  of  ridicule,  of  sophis- 
try, and  of  wily  art,  to  hinder  and  prevent  the  progress  of 
Reform  ; — while  they  are  still  pouring  out  their  poisonous  wa- 
ters, that  they  may  deluge,  desolate  and  destroy,  every  remain- 
ing green  spot  upon  the  far  extended  plain  ot  human  character, 
do  they  not  know  that  they  are  doing  violence  to  every  just 
principle  of  virtuous  conduct  !  Do  they  not  know  that  ihere 
are  thousands  in  our  country,  who  are  now  suffering  the  punish- 
ment awarded  to  their  crimes,  who  have  never  inflicted  upon 


12 


the  community,  even  a  tithe  of  the  untold  miseries,  which  they 
themselves,  are  striving  to  visit  upon  this  generation,  and  upon 
posterity  1  Do  they  not  know  that  there  are  countless  numbers 
of  those,  whose  inexcusable  misdeeds  bear  no  considerable  pro- 
portion to  their  own,  the  sound  of  whose  footsteps  has  passed 
away  from  the  earth,  and  who  are  now  in  a  state  of  nameless 
existence  1  Men,  hardened  in  this  iniquitous  calling,  have  been 
reasoned  with,  until,  with  them,  argument  seems  to  have  lost 
all  its  force  ; — appeals  to  their  better  feelings,  to  their  humanity, 
seem  to  have  been  cast  before  them,  like  pearls  before  swine, 
only  to  be  trampled  under  foot; — while  they  still  hold  their 
consciences,  as  if  void  of  offence,  seared  as  they  are,  with 
irons  seven  times  heated  in  the  unquenchable  fires  of  avarice 
and  depravity.  But  to  these,  public  sentiment  and  public  jus- 
tice are  fast  assigning  their  fit  positions  in  society  ; — they  are 
justly  being  looked  upon,  as  men  wise  to  do  evil,  but  who  to  do 
good  have  no  understanding. 

And  there  are  those  who  from  the  respectable  position  which 
they  occupy  in  the  community,  do  not  only  by  their  precepts 
and  examples,  but  by  the  patronage  of  their  money,  counte- 
nance and  sustain  the  traffic  in  intoxicating  agents.  The  re- 
tailer can  never  look  to  the  devoted  friend  of  Temperance,  for 
countenance  in  anything  associated  with  his  wretched  business. 
Nor  does  he  look  for  support  in  a  miserable  traffic,  to  him  whom 
that  traffic  has  made  miserably  and  emphatically  poor.  His 
avaricious  gaze  is,  rather,  fixed  upon  him  whose  comparative 
wealth  and  good  name,  may  be  used  at  once  as  a  shield  against 
reproach,  an  authority  for  continuing  in  an  hated  occupation, 
and  as  a  guarantee  of  pecuniary  gains.  Were  it  not  then,  that 
those  who  are  pleased  to  style  themselves  "  moderate  drinkers," 
still  persist  in  rejecting  the  principle  of  Total  Abstinence,  the 
manufacture  and  sale  of  alcoholic  beverages  would  at  once 
cease,  and  with  it  Intemperance  would  cease  to  be  numbered 
foremost  among  the  vices  of  the  times.  And  were  it  not 
that,  by  their  precepts  and  examples,  they  certify  to  others  the 
propriety,  the  safety,  of  moderate  indulgence,  how  soon  would 
the  fashion,  the  custom,  of  drinking  at  all  of  that  which  may 
intoxicate,  pass  into  absolute  disrepute,  and  be,  itself,  entirely 
done  away.    Fearful,  then,  is  their  responsibility. 


13 


A  glance  of  the  mind's  eye,  at  once  intuitive  and  introverted, 
must  convince  them,  that  on  the  tablets  of  their  own  hearts,  the 
Law  of  Abstinence  is  written,  as  by  the  finger  of  CJod; — and 
though  appetite,  and  prejudice  and  indulgence,  may  darken, 
pervert,  and  obscure  its  sun-beam  perspicuity,  yet  that  law,  no 
folly,  no  crime,  no  degradation  can  ever  totally  obliterate. 

This  fundamental  principle  of  our  well  being,  is  the  guardian 
of  our  self-love,  of  our  happiness  and  of  our  rights  ;  and  the 
soul,  the  spirit,  rides  high  and  warm,  upon  its  generous  influ- 
ence. It  is  the  sustaining  power  of  the  Divinity  in  man.  The 
immortal  mind  partakes  of  no  other  feast  so  rich  as  that  which 
unclouded  reason  prepares,  from  the  sober  contemplation  of 
beauty  and  of  truth; — and  the  inmost  recesses  of  the  heart, 
furnish  no  other  treasures  so  high  above  all  price,  as  those 
which  have  been  garnered  up,  from  innocence,  from  purity,  and 
from  hope.  What  folly,  what  madness  then,  to  pursue  a  course 
of  indulgence  which  divests  the  intellect  of  all  its  towering 
strength  ;  palsies  the  wing  of  every  noble  aspiration  ;  chills  the 
warm  life's  blood,  and  surrenders  up  the  moral  image  of  God, 
to  foul  and.  horrid  disfiguration.  While  they  thus  behold  their 
own  true  interests  and  welfare,  and  the  very  life  and  being  of 
all  humanity  involved  in  this  great  work — this  all-compassing 
measure  of  philanthropy,  an  enlightened  conscience  must,  it 
would  seem,  swing  from  her  moorings,  and  seek  relief  and  safe- 
ty in  the  surrender  and  rejection  of  appetite,  of  prejudice,  and 
of  passion. 

Of  all  those  who  have  refused  the  monitions  of  history,  neg- 
lectei  the  warnings  of  observation,  and  despised  the  lessons  of 
experience  ;  and,  in  the  fast  descending  scale  of  degradation, 
have  passed  on  from  abstinence  to  folly,  from  folly  to  vice,  and 
from  vice  to  drunkenness  and  all  its  manifold  pollutions,  not  a 
few  are  yet  alive,  to  behold  again  the  light  of  Freedom's  natal 
day.  How  many  of  these,  can  behold  gaunt  poverty  staring 
them  in  the  face  ;  a  crowd  of  loathsome  diseases  gathering  thick 
around  them ;  and  the  web  fast  weaving,  which  may  enshroud 
them  in  untimely  death.  For  them,  the  bright  and  glorious  sun 
has  long  poured  out  his  gorgeous  light  in  vain  by  day  ;  and  in 
vain  for  them  by  night,  the  silvery  moon,  and  glittering  stars, 
have  followed  on  their  silent,  trackless  way,  through  all  the 


14 


heavens.  Shame  and  deep  disgrace,  and  unutterable  distress 
have  settled  heavily  upon  them  ;  and  their  wives,  their  children 
and  their  friends,  and  every  voice  that  floats  upon  the  winds  of 
heaven,  mourn  and  lament  their  fate  in  bitterness  and  wailing. 

But  even  to  these,  the  great  moral  revolution,  in  which  we 
rejoice,  has  brought  a  grand  and  wondrous  change,  and  placed 
them  in  a  position,  at  once  new,  and  full  of  interest.  As  they 
now  look  back  upon  society,  and  the  world,  they  behold  no 
more,  the  firm  and  lofty  walls  of  separation  all  closed  upon 
them.  They  no  longer  hear  the  voice  of  anger  and  reviling, 
of  hatred,  and  of  maddening  reproach.  They  can  now  behold 
the  massive  gates,  which  had  remained,  for  them,  so  long  unmov- 
ed,- thrown  open  wide.  The  watchmen,  with  their  flags  of 
truce  adorned  with  all  the  emblems  of  joy,  and  hope,  and  love, 
are  standing  upon  their  towers.  And  heralds,  every  where  are 
seen,  clothed  as  in  garments  of  good  repute,  proffering  succor 
and  relief  to  the  fallen  ;  and  with  friendly  invitation  urging  all 
to  throw  off  their  corruptions  ;  to  put  on  their  humanity  anew, 
arid  with  them  to  enter  and  abide  in  the  mansions  of  essential 
freedom — the  bowers  of  plenty  and  of  innocent  delights — the 
temples  of  sober  meditation  and  of  praise.  And,  oh  !  that  these 
would  but  receive  the  Pledge,  and  with  us  unite  in  the  requiem 
of  departed,  monstrous  folly — with  us  rejoice  as  in  the  morning 
of  life. 

With  what  ecstacy  of  joy  do  those  hail  the  light  of  this  im- 
mortal day,  who  are  in  the  full  fruition  of  all  the  priceless  bless- 
ings poured  out  upon  them  by  the  glorious  and  mighty  revolu- 
tions which  we  celebrate.  They  hail  it  in  manhood  erect  and 
unfettered,  strong  and  free;  in  intellect  enlightened  and  clear, 
commanding  and  fast  fixed  on  wisdom  ;  and  in  soul  purified  and 
peaceful,  elevated  and  swelling  with  thanksgiving.  They 
breathe  not  only  the  pure  air  of  general  freedom,  but  the  purer 
air  of  American  liberty  and  independence,  rich  in  its  sweets  of 
plenty  and  of  health,  rich  in  its  fragrance  of  abstinence  and  of 
purity,  and  bearing  all  that  is  of  worth,  to  the  great,  the  good, 
the  noble,  and  the  excellent  in  man.  Remembering,  but  to  be  ad- 
monished, all  the  sufferings  and  dangers  through  which  they've 
passed,  the  present  and  the  future,  with  all  their  content,  and 
comfort  and  happiness,  are  as  waveless  of  sorrow  as  the  bosom 


15 


of  a  tranquil  sea.  The  balmy  breezes  of  prosperity  now  gently 
fan  their  brows.  The  eyes  of  friendship  and  of  love,  beam  full 
upon  them,  in  tearful,  joyous  brightness  ;  and  the  warm  breath 
of  affection,  comes  stealing  over  their  delighted  senses,  like  the 
thrilling  respirations  of  some  dear,  appeased  divinity. 

Sustained  by  the  sacred  Pledge,  they  have  been  as  success- 
ful in  their  struggles  with  the  monster  Intemperance,  as  was 
Hercules  in  his  struggles  with  the  Nemean  lion; — as  successful 
as  were  our  Fathers,  in  their  struggle  with  England's  insatiate 
beast.  They  glory  in  no  blood-stained  laurels  won  in  fierce 
collision  on  the  battle-field  ; — but  in  their  own  persons,  their 
own  front  and  mein,  they  bear  the  trophies  of  a  victory  of  higher 
achievement — a  victory  over  sin,  and  suffering,  and  death. 

Hail,  then,  our  Ship  of  State  !  and  the  stars  and  stripes  spread 
out  upon  her  gorgeous  ensign  as  it  floats  far  over  the  sea  and 
over  the  land,  in  pride  and  triumph. 

Hail,  then,  her  matchless  consort — our  Temperance  Ship,  and 
her  flags  and  banners  streaming  in  the  full  swelling  breeze,  in 
gladness  and  unspeak*able  delight. 

All  hail,  our  Noble  Fleet !  Its  courses  are  all  set  to  ride  upon 
the  ever-rolling  waves  of  Liberty.  And  notwithstanding  the 
rough  surges  of  human  passions  which  so  continually  beat  upon 
it,  the  good  ships  still  go  booming  on  their  glorious  way,  freight- 
ed with  a  nation's  welfare,  with  a  nation's  wealth,  a  nation's 
honor,  a  nation's  happiness,  and  a  nation's  love. 


B.  P.  BISSEI.L,  PRINTER— NEW  LONDON. 


